Search Results (1,454)

Landslides pose persistent threats to mountainous regions in Taiwan, particularly in areas such as Nanfeng Village, Nantou County, where steep terrain and concentrated rainfall contribute to chronic slope instability. This study investigates spatiotemporal patterns of vegetation change as a proxy for identifying potential landslide-prone zones, with a focus on the Tung-An tribal settlement in the eastern part of the village. Using high-resolution satellite imagery from SPOT 6/7 (2013–2023) and Pléiades (2019–2023), we derived annual NDVI layers to monitor vegetation dynamics across the landscape. Long-term vegetation trends were evaluated using the Mann–Kendall test, while spatiotemporal clustering was assessed through Emerging Hot Spot Analysis (EHSA) based on the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic within a space-time cube framework. The results revealed statistically significant NDVI increases in many valley-bottom and mid-slope regions, particularly where natural regeneration or reduced disturbance occurred. However, other valley-bottom zones—especially those affected by recurring debris flows—still exhibited declining or persistently low vegetation. In contrast, persistent low or declining NDVI values were observed along steep slopes and debris-flow-prone channels, such as the Nanshan and Mei Creeks. These zones consistently overlapped with known landslide paths and cold spot clusters, confirming their ecological vulnerability and geomorphic risk. This study demonstrates that integrating NDVI trend analysis with spatiotemporal hot spot classification provides a robust, scalable approach for identifying slope hazard areas in data-scarce mountainous regions. The methodology offers practical insights for ecological monitoring, early warning systems, and disaster risk management in Taiwan and other typhoon-affected environments. By highlighting specific locations where vegetation decline aligns with landslide risk, the findings can guide local authorities in prioritizing slope stabilization, habitat conservation, and land-use planning. Such targeted actions support the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land), by reducing disaster risk, enhancing community resilience, and promoting the long-term sustainability of mountain ecosystems. Full article

This paper presents a novel literature survey on leveraging electrolysis for grid frequency stabilization in power systems with high penetration of renewable energy sources (RESs), uniquely integrating global research findings with specific insights into the Polish energy context—a region facing acute grid challenges due to rapid RES growth and infrastructure limitations. The intermittent nature of wind and solar power exacerbates frequency fluctuations, necessitating dynamic demand-side management solutions like hydrogen production via electrolysis. By synthesizing over 30 studies, the survey reveals key results: electrolysis systems, particularly PEM and alkaline electrolyzers, can reduce frequency deviations by up to 50% through fast frequency response (FFR) and primary reserve provision, as demonstrated in simulations and real-world pilots (e.g., in France and the Netherlands); however, economic viability requires enhanced compensation schemes, with current models showing unprofitability without subsidies. Technological advancements, such as transistor-based rectifiers, improve efficiency under partial loads, while integration with RES farms mitigates overproduction issues, as evidenced by Polish cases where 44 GWh of solar energy was curtailed in March 2024. The survey contributes actionable insights for policymakers and engineers, including recommendations for deploying electrolyzers to enhance grid resilience, support hydrogen-based transportation, and facilitate Poland’s target of 50.1% RESs by 2030, thereby advancing the green energy transition amid rising instability risks like blackouts in RES-heavy systems. Full article

Global warming, anthropogenic pressure, and urban expansion at the expense of green spaces are leading to an increase in the incidence of urban heat islands, creating discomfort and health issue for citizens. This present research aimed at quantifying the impact of nature-based solutions to support decision-making processes in sustainable energy action plans. A simple method is provided, linking applied thermodynamics to physics-informed modeling of urban built-up and green areas, high-resolution climate models at urban scale, greenery modeling, spatial georeferencing techniques for energy, and entropy exchanges evaluation in urban built-up areas, with and without vegetation. This allows the outdoor climate conditions and thermo-hygrometric well-being to improve, reducing the workload of cooling plant-systems in buildings and entropy flux to the environment. The finalization and post-processing of obtained results allows the definition of entropy footprints. The main findings show a decrease in greenery’s contribution for different scenarios, referring to a different climatological dataset, but an increase in entropy that becomes higher for the scenario with higher emissions. The comparison between the entropy footprint values for different urban zones can be a useful support to public administrations, stakeholders, and local governments for planning proactive resilient cities and anthropogenic impact reduction and climate change mitigation. Full article

This study examines the intersection of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosure (operationalized through sustainability reporting), corporate financial performance, and the behavioral dynamics of herding in capital structure decisions among non-financial firms in five ASEAN countries. As ESG and sustainability finance gain prominence in addressing climate change and climate risk, understanding the behavioral factors that relate to ESG adoption is crucial. Employing a quantitative approach, this research utilizes a purposive sample of 125 non-financial firms from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, gathered from the Bloomberg Terminal spanning 2018–2023. Managerial Herding Ratio (MHR) is used to assess herding behavior, while Sustainability Report Disclosure Index (SRDI) measures ESG disclosure. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and Multigroup Analysis (MGA) were applied for data analysis. This research finds that while sustainability reporting enhances return on assets (ROA) and Tobin’s Q, it does not significantly relate to net profit margin (NPM). The findings also confirm that herding behavior—where companies mimic the financial structures of peers—moderates the relationship between sustainability reporting and performance outcomes, with leader firms gaining more from transparency efforts. This highlights the double-edged nature of herding: while it can accelerate ESG adoption, it may dilute the strategic depth of climate action if firms merely follow rather than lead. The study provides actionable insights for regulators and corporate strategists seeking to strengthen ESG finance as a driver for climate resilience and long-term stakeholder value. Full article

This study examines how Multi-Scalar Nature-Based Regenerative Solutions (M-NbRS) can realign urban–industrial systems with planetary boundaries to mitigate Earth system destabilization. Using integrated systems analysis, we document three key findings: (1) global material flows show only 9% circularity amid annual extraction of 100 billion tons of resources; (2) Earth system diagnostics reveal 28 trillion tons of cryosphere loss since 1994 and 372 Zettajoules of oceanic heat accumulation; and (3) meta-analysis identifies accelerating biosphere integrity loss (61.56 million hectares deforested since 2001) and atmospheric CO₂ concentrations reaching 424.61 ppm (2024). Our Vicious Cycle Atlas of Fragility framework maps three synergistic disintegration pathways: metabolic overload from linear resource flows exceeding sink capacity, entropic degradation through high-entropy waste driving cryospheric collapse, and planetary boundary transgression. The M-NbRS framework counters these through spatially nested interventions: hyper-local urban tree canopy expansion (demonstrating 0.4–12 °C cooling), regional initiatives like the Heart of Borneo’s 24 million-hectare conservation, and global industrial controls maintaining aragonite saturation (Ωarag > 2.75) for marine resilience. Implementation requires policy innovations including deforestation-free supply chains, sustainability-linked financing, and ecological reciprocity legislation. These findings provide an evidence base for transitioning industrial–urban systems from drivers of Earth system fragility to architects of regeneration within safe operating spaces. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that M-NbRS offer a scientifically grounded, policy-actionable framework for breaking the vicious cycles of Earth system destabilization. By operationalizing nature-based regeneration across spatial scales—from street trees to transboundary conservation—this approach provides measurable pathways to realign human systems with planetary boundaries, offering a timely blueprint for industrial–urban transformation within ecological limits. Full article

Over the past two decades, patient safety and clinical risk management have become strategic priorities for healthcare systems worldwide. In this context, the London Protocol has emerged as one of the most influential methodologies for investigating adverse events through a systemic, non-punitive lens. The 2024 edition, curated by Vincent, Adams, Bellandi, and colleagues, represents a significant evolution of the original 2004 framework. It integrates recent advancements in safety science, human factors, and digital health, while placing a stronger emphasis on resilience, proactive learning, and stakeholder engagement. This article critically examines the structure, key principles, and innovations of the London Protocol 2024, highlighting its departure from incident-centered analysis toward a broader understanding of both failures and successes. The protocol encourages fewer but more in-depth investigations, producing actionable and sustainable recommendations rather than generic reports. It also underscores the importance of involving patients and families as active partners in safety processes, recognizing their unique perspectives on communication, care pathways, and system failures. Beyond its strengths—holistic analysis, multidisciplinary collaboration, and cultural openness—the systemic approach presents challenges, including methodological complexity, resource requirements, and cultural resistance in blame-oriented environments. This paper discusses these limitations and explores how leadership, staff engagement, and digital technologies (including artificial intelligence) can help overcome them. Ultimately, the London Protocol 2024 emerges not only as a methodological tool but as a catalyst for cultural transformation, fostering healthcare systems that are safer, more resilient, and committed to continuous learning. Full article

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic prompted concerns about delays in cancer diagnosis and treatment, particularly for lung cancer (LC). We assessed the impact of the pandemic on lung cancer care, diagnostic efficiency, treatment timelines, and short-term survival in a Spanish tertiary hospital. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study including 530 patients diagnosed with primary lung cancer from March 2019 to March 2022. Patients were grouped into three cohorts: pre-pandemic (2019), first pandemic year (2020), and second pandemic year (2021). Key intervals—referral-to-diagnosis and diagnosis-to-treatment—along with survival outcomes were compared across cohorts. Multivariate Cox regression identified independent predictors of mortality. Results: LC diagnoses declined by 19% in 2020, rebounding by 42% in 2021. The proportion of patients receiving the first definitive treatment remained stable (~70%). Diagnostic timeliness improved: the median referral-to-diagnosis interval shortened from 19 to 14 days (p < 0.0001), with >80% of patients diagnosed within 30 days throughout all periods. Molecular testing turnaround increased (median 11 to 15 days, p = 0.0226). The diagnosis-to-treatment interval remained unchanged (median 34–35 days). One-year survival improved from 37% (2019) to 43% (2020–2021), and two-year survival from 22% to 30%. In multivariate analysis, only advanced stage and poor ECOG performance status independently predicted mortality; delays in diagnosis or treatment had no significant impact. Conclusions: Despite pandemic-related disruptions, essential LC care and short-term outcomes were largely maintained in our center. Early stage at diagnosis and favorable performance status outweighed the effect of moderate delays. Health system resilience and streamlined care pathways proved critical for sustaining cancer outcomes during the COVID-19 crisis. These findings offer actionable lessons for the Spanish healthcare system and may help guide national preparedness strategies for future oncologic crises. Full article

Background: Eco-anxiety and solastalgia are psychological responses to environmental degradation and climate change. This study examines how these concepts are represented in Spanish-language digital media, considering both emotional dimensions and the profiles of content producers. Methods: We conducted an inductive qualitative content analysis of 120 Spanish-language items (online news articles and selected posts from digital platforms) published between October 2023 and March 2024. Items were identified using a Boolean search strategy and initially filtered by LIWC to detect high emotional-and-anxiety term density; final coding followed grounded-theory procedures, resulting in four thematic categories. Results: The most frequent theme was environmental activism (41%), followed by catastrophic thinking (29%), coping strategies (25%), and loss of meaningful places (6%). Among content producers, citizen participants represented 40%, youth activists 25%, and scientists 15%. Digital media function both as sources of anxiety-inducing content and as spaces for awareness-raising and support. Conclusions: While eco-anxiety is not a clinical diagnosis, it exerts a significant psychological impact—particularly on youth and vulnerable groups. Spanish-language digital platforms play an ambivalent role, amplifying distress yet enabling resilience and collective action. Future interventions should leverage these channels to foster environmental awareness, emotional resilience, and civic engagement. Full article

This study investigates how staycations enhance the experiences of staycationers and foster stakeholder collaboration to promote sustainable tourism. A qualitative case study approach, guided by constructivist narrative inquiry, involved in-depth interviews with 21 key stakeholders and a comprehensive analysis of staycation packages from 10 four- and five-star hotels during a crisis. The study draws on stakeholder, collaboration, and social exchange theories, integrated with triple-bottom-line (TBL) principles, to highlight the resilience power of staycations and its contributions to sustainable tourism development. The findings revealed that staycations significantly enhance the sustainability of the industry. Remarkably, stakeholders demonstrated exceptional collaboration, forming an inclusive public–private partnership to address the crisis and advance sustainable tourism development. It emphasises the need for stronger stakeholder collaboration, advocating for a unified approach to destination management over counterproductive competition. Furthermore, a roadmap is proposed for future investigations, focusing on the role of staycations in promoting positive experiences and enhancing stakeholder collaboration for the sustainable development of the tourism industry during crises. The study emphasised the need for further investigation into specific stakeholders to address competitive imbalances during crises, offering insights that serve as a call to action for practitioners and scholars, thereby laying the groundwork for advancing the industry and enhancing destination reputations. Full article

Critical infrastructure, such as transport networks, energy facilities, and urban installations, is increasingly vulnerable to natural hazards and climate change. Remote sensing technologies, namely satellite imagery, offer solutions for monitoring, evaluating, and enhancing the resilience of these vital assets. This paper explores how applications based on synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and optical satellite imagery contribute to the protection of critical infrastructure by enabling near real-time monitoring and early detection of natural hazards for actionable insights across various European critical infrastructure sectors. Case studies demonstrate the integration of remote sensing data into geographic information systems (GISs) for promoting situational awareness, risk assessment, and predictive modeling of natural disasters. These include floods, landslides, wildfires, and earthquakes. Accordingly, this study underlines the role of remote sensing in supporting long-term infrastructure planning and climate adaptation strategies. The presented work supports the goals of the European Union (EU-HORIZON)-sponsored ATLANTIS project, which focuses on strengthening the resilience of critical EU infrastructures by providing authorities and civil protection services with effective tools for managing natural hazards. Full article

This paper investigates the integration of Internet of things (IoT) technology with blockchain to enhance transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency in smart contract execution for IoT ecosystems. The proposed approach extends the Three-Phase Methodology (TpM) by introducing an innovative entity, the IoT Operator, which acts as a custody caretaker, contract enforcer, and mediator. By leveraging blockchain’s secure and immutable ledger, the IoT Operator ensures the reliable monitoring and governance of IoT applications. A PoC implementation conducted at the Eldorado Research Institute demonstrates the methodology’s effectiveness, realizing a significant reduction of 95.83% in equipment search time. This work highlights the practical advantages of integrating blockchain and IoT within a structured framework, emphasizing the need for tailored, application-specific solutions rather than generic decentralization. The findings offer actionable guidelines for implementing blockchain in IoT systems, paving the way for more secure, efficient, and resilient IoT applications. Full article

Domestic and short-sea shipping play a crucial role in ensuring food and energy security, employment, and connectivity in Small Island Developing States (SIDSs) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Despite accounting for up to 26.2% of global maritime emissions by voyage activity, these sectors remain underrepresented in policy and academic discussions on greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction. This study presents a structured and transdisciplinary assessment of decarbonization pathways tailored to the unique operational characteristics of domestic fleets. It reviews key operational, technical, and port-based strategies, identifying both opportunities and challenges in the transition to zero-emission shipping. Highlighted measures include the adoption of carbon-neutral fuels, advanced energy-efficiency technologies, and optimized vessel design. The paper emphasizes the pivotal role of ports as clean energy hubs and advocates for integrating domestic shipping into National Action Plans and Nationally Determined Contributions. Coordinated stakeholder engagement, targeted public investment, and supportive regulatory frameworks are essential to unlock decarbonization potential—contributing not only to climate mitigation, but also to sustainable development and energy resilience in emerging maritime regions. Full article

This paper proposes a Hybrid Adaptive Learning-Based Control (HALC) algorithm for voltage regulation in grid-forming inverters (GFIs), addressing the challenges posed by voltage sags and swells. The HALC algorithm integrates two key control strategies: Model Predictive Control (MPC) for short-term optimization, and reinforcement learning (RL) for long-term self-improvement for immediate response to grid disturbances. MPC is modeled to predict and adjust control actions based on short-term voltage fluctuations while RL continuously refines the inverter’s response by learning from historical grid conditions, enhancing overall system stability and resilience. The proposed multi-stage control framework is modeled based on a mathematical representation using a control feedback model with dynamic optimal control. To enhance voltage stability, Lyapunov is used to operate across different time scales: milliseconds for immediate response, seconds for short-term optimization, and minutes to hours for long-term learning. The HALC framework offers a scalable solution for dynamically improving voltage regulation, reducing power losses, and optimizing grid resilience over time. Simulation is conducted and the results are compared with other existing methods. Full article

Sustainability is a goal for modern organizations since every organization aims to be in operation for the number of years needed to achieve profitability and even diversify for continuous survival. To achieve sustainability, firms need to understand and adopt the triple bottom line of sustainability, which is the economy, the environment, and society. This research draws on information processing theory and uses complementary insights from stakeholder theory to examine the significance of information sharing in organizational operations towards the holistic achievement of organizational goals. Primary data was obtained from 236 companies out of 255 surveyed from four (4) regions in Ghana operating in five (5) industries, which were mining, extraction, manufacturing, distribution, and service provision. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 25) and Mplus version 7.4 were used to conduct the analysis. The results revealed that information sharing is positively related to sustainability. Additionally, resilience partially positively mediates the relationship between information sharing and sustainability. However, the use of technological tools did not strengthen the positive relationship between information sharing and supply chain resilience. Similarly, entrepreneurial orientation did not moderate the positive relationship between supply chain resilience and sustainability. This study emphasizes the important role of supply chain resilience in explaining how sustainability can be achieved through the timely sharing of information. Furthermore, constant efforts by organizations to train employees to embrace the use of technological tools to enhance sustainability are highly recommended. It was concluded that managers can implement a range of policies for insightful actions geared towards collaboration and improved environmental/social/economic performance across supply chains. Full article

In recent years, Italy has experienced a significant increase in violence against healthcare workers, mirroring a global trend. Manifesting as verbal, physical, psychological, and material aggression, this phenomenon endangers both personnel safety and the foundational principles of the National Health Service (SSN) as outlined in Article 32 of the Italian Constitution. The escalation—most acute in emergency departments, psychiatric units, inpatient wards, and community services—affects a broad spectrum of professionals, compromising care quality and institutional integrity. Data from the FNOMCeO-CENSIS Report 2023–2024 reveal over 18,000 reported incidents in 2024, with verbal assaults disproportionately affecting female nursing staff. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated systemic vulnerabilities, heightening user dissatisfaction and psychological strain among healthcare providers. In response, legislative actions—such as Law No. 113/2020 and Decree-Law No. 137/2024—aim to strengthen prevention, monitoring, and penal measures. This article examines legal, institutional, and organizational responses, including on-the-ground and hospital-based strategies to mitigate violence. Adopting a multidisciplinary perspective, it analyzes recent policy developments, regional dynamics, and victim-perpetrator profiles, arguing that safeguarding healthcare environments is both a public security priority and an ethical imperative essential to preserving the dignity of care work and the resilience of the health system. Full article